adminBruce Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
The Hugh Masekela and Victor Kunonga joint Chiwoniso Maraire commemoration project, Shai Shai is done and the two plan to release the album in Easter. Prior to her death, Maraire, who passed away at the age of 36, was working on an album with the South African jazz legend and Afro Jazz sensation Kunonga.
The project, a brainchild of Masekela, was initially set to be a tribute to Maraire’s late father, mbira master and teacher, Dumisani Maraire. Two years after the death of Chiwoniso, four female artistes were recruited to take her place in order to continue with the project.
The quartet that Masekela and Kunonga chose to spearhead the yet to be titled album are Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Benita Tarupiwa, Joyce Warikwanda and Rumbidzai Tavaziva.
In an interview from his South African base, Masekela said that the album is done and they were now polishing up the final product. “The album I’m doing with Victor is done and we are now just mastering it to make sure that the final product matches the effort that was put into its making. We are looking at releasing it sometime around Easter,” he said.
Masekela added that although the project was not being handled by any major recording labels, they were looking at avenues through which they could promote the project.
“We are not signed to any major label but we are looking at distribution deals that can help us get the project to the people,” he said. Masekela said although the album was a collaboration between both Zimbabwean and South African artistes, they were not going to adopt a two pronged approach to cover its promotion in both countries.
“We are not going to try and make special efforts to ensure that the album is promoted in both countries because that is not our line of thinking. We don’t observe these boundaries because we don’t think colonially as artistes,” he said.
Masekela, who was alternating between South Africa and Zimbabwe last year, said that he and Oliver Mtukudzi were also still hard at work on their album. “The project with Oliver is not finished yet but we are making progress. Hopefully by the end of the year it will be done,” he said.
The jazz legend, who has been prioritising his collaborations with Zimbabwean artistes in the last few years, revealed his Zimbabwean roots during an interview with Star FM two years ago, saying that his great grandfather came from Great Zimbabwe as part of the Karanga people who were later adopted by the Tonga people. He also revealed that his real surname was Munyepawu.
Online Reporter